The Final Test

Scootaloo did a little skip toward Starlight and fluttered her tiny wings. She tapped her nose thoughtfully with one hoof. "Hmm, Sunburst, do you mind paralyzing her again?"

"My pleasure," Sunburst replied sweetly. A burst of magic shot Starlight's chest, making her go completely stiff. The ring around her disappeared. Scootaloo stepped up to Starlight. She eyed her, then turned back to look at the others. "I need to make sure the spell worked. Do you mind?"

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle happily stepped aside, revealing a layout of different tools like a screwdriver, a hammer, and others. Scootaloo grabbed the hammer between her jaws. She turned back to Starlight with a wicked smile. Rage burned in Starlight's eyes. The little bastard knew full-well that the spell had worked.

Scootaloo swung her head back, then swung the hammer toward Starlight's chest. A crack echoed through the room. Pain shot through Starlight's chest as her bones shattered. She would have screamed out in agony had been given the chance. However, her lack of reaction seemed to satisfy Scootaloo. She tossed the hammer aside.

The young pegasus trotted over to the wall behind Starlight. She pulled on a lever, which pushed out part of the wall. The jutted-out wall spun around, revealing a metal table with a strap in each of the four corners. The table was sitting upright. Scootaloo looked back at the others. Big Mac stepped forward and helped Scootaloo lift Starlight up to the table. Big Mac placed his hooves on Starlight's shoulders while Scootaloo reached up toward the top straps. She struggled, but she eventually got hold of them and strapped Starlight's front hooves down. When she got them both down, Big Mac moved away. Scootaloo strapped down Starlight's back hooves. The young orange mare grinned eagerly, then stepped back. "You can unparalyze her now."

Another burst of Sunburst's magic shot Starlight's chest. The unicorn let out a screech of pain as soon as she was able to.

"You must've broken something, you little-" Starlight started, a spray of blood escaping her lips, only to be cut off by Scootaloo raising a hoof to her lips.

"Ah ah ah," she warned, shaking her head. "I'd advise watching what you say, seeing as your life is quite literally in our hooves." The orange mare looked at Discord, who was flexing his claws, and smiled. "Or, should I say, Discord's."

Starlight gritted her teeth together. "You say that like it should scare me," she snarled. "You seem to lack understanding of the fact that I don't care if I live or die. In all honesty, I'd much rather die out of spite of your little test."

"You seem to have forgotten the terms," Rarity said slyly. "Perhaps we should remind you by showing you."

"No!" Starlight cried instantly, making Rarity's smile widen. "I- I believe you."

"Good," Rarity cooed. "Now, Scootaloo, would you like to explain your test, or shall I?"

"I want to," Scootaloo responded. She smiled at Starlight as though they were old friends. Starlight once again tried to ignite her horn, but it didn't work.

"Oh, darling, don't you remember how you disabled mine and Twilight's magic?" Rarity asked. "Do you really think we wouldn't do the same for this test?"

"I didn't think you were wise enough to have pulled it off properly," Starlight chided.

"You seem to have forgotten just how many ponies I'm working with," Rarity chuckled. "And just exactly who I'm working with. Do you doubt the powers of the rulers of Equestria, or your old friend?"

"If you'd like my honest opinion, I don't trust a single thing to do with Sunburst at this point," Starlight replied. "I never thought he'd trick me in such a way, yet here we are."

"Ouch," Sunburst said in mock offense, pressing a hoof to his chest. "Do refrain from saying such hurtful things while I'm present, please."

Before Starlight could snap something back, Scootaloo trotted over to the tools. She picked up a hard metal rod with a hook at the end, placing it under her wing.

"I'm sure you remember how Rainbow Dash died," Scootaloo began as she headed back toward Starlight. "I doubt it was easy for you to forget."

"Of course it wasn't," Starlight scoffed with a cackle.

"Awfully cocky for a pony in your position," Rarity taunted while Discord slid forward, his body moving like a snake's.

"Rainbow Dash endured thirteen lashes from the rod, one being too gentle for you to approve of it," Scootaloo continued. "I merely want to test if you can endure the same thing, just with slightly higher stakes. Seeing as you're stronger and more powerful than most ponies, I believe you should survive."

"Rainbow was struck on the back," Starlight snarled. "And there was no hook."

"Didn't you hear me?" Scootaloo huffed irritably. "I said the stakes were higher with this test."

Starlight looked at the princesses angrily. "Are you really just going to let this-"

"When Rarity gives the go ahead, the test will begin," Scootaloo interrupted, looking back at the white unicorn. Rarity did some work with the timer, then it began ticking.

One tick.

Two ticks.

Three ticks.

"Begin."

Scootaloo grabbed the rod with her front hooves and stepped back a little. She swung it lightly. When it missed Starlight, she stepped closer. She swung it again, and this time it made contact with the unicorn. Starlight yelped in pain and jerked at the shock. A bit of blood trickled from the pierced skin, but it was no more than what would come from a cat scratch.

"One strike," Sweetie Belle announced, writing something down on the parchment.

Scootaloo smiled approvingly. She moved a little closer, adjusting her grasp on the rod. She then swung it back, then struck it hard against Starlight's belly. The sharp hook sunk into her skin. Starlight shrieked in agony as contact was made. Blood bubbled from the wound and ran down Starlight's side. There was a lot more this time. Scootaloo roughly yanked the hook free. Starlight let out a small cry as it caused more pain and bleeding. The pain of this and the broken bones in her chest caused tears to involuntarily drip down her cheeks. Blood stained the end of the hook and ran down the sides.

"Two strikes," Sweetie Belle said.

Scootaloo studied Starlight closely. She poked a spot on her side, then shook her head in dissatisfaction. She poked a spot closer to her chest, which made her smile. She swung back the rod again. Starlight watch in helpless horror as the hook came closer and closer to her. In one swift motion, Scootaloo had connected the hook to Starlight's skin again. It sunk in deeper this time. Starlight screeched once more. She felt the warm blood dripping down her body. She quietly sobbed, unable to catch her breath. When Scootaloo yanked the hook away, it was rough enough to tear away a bit of Starlight's skin. Scootaloo laughed triumphantly. "Look at that!"

"Three strikes."

Scootaloo repeated the process several times over, poking spots on Starlight to find the weakest areas and striking there. Each hit was harder than the last.

"Please stop," Starlight coughed between sobs after the tenth strike. Her belly was now stained with blood. It coated her hind hooves as well. The pain was indescribable. It was enough to break even the toughest pony. Was this similar to the pain Rainbow Dash had endured?

"Only the first test and you're already begging for forgiveness?" Scootaloo tsked and shook her head. "I thought you were stronger, Starlight."

"Just let me go," Starlight wheezed, her voice hoarse from her screams. "You can throw me in prison or even send me to Tartarus. You can do anything."

Scootaloo instantly raised the rod again. "Nope. Not satisfying enough." The rod struck Starlight again. Her scream was cracky, having been worn from the past strikes. This time it hit her chest. Scootaloo stepped close enough for their noses to be touching as she snarled, "And not even close to what you deserve."

She ripped the hook free once again, the anger and hate present in this one. More blood contributed from the rest as it poured from the large gash. Starlight gasped for air, sobbing uncontrollably. "Scootaloo..."

"Eleven strikes."

Scootaloo studied Starlight's body closely. Her eyes settled on the unicorn's face. Realization struck Starlight as Scootaloo swung the rod back. "Scootaloo, no!"

The combination of Starlight's open and moving mouth, and the hook striking so close to it cause the right end of Starlight's mouth to be ripped open. It stretched down further than anypony's mouth ever should have. Scootaloo winced at Starlight let out a gurgled screech. Blood filled the unicorn's mouth, staining her teeth and dripping down the edges. The metallic taste covered her tongue.

"Twelve strikes."

"That wasn't meant to happen." Scootaloo spun the rod, which was now covered in blood. She simply shrugged, showing no sign of remorse like she had previously. "Your own fault, really. Hmm, I wonder how this would affect your horn?"

Starlight was too weak to protest as the rod was swung back again. Tears mixed with blood as she continued to cry. Blood oozed from her mouth. It bubbled out as she sobbed, drenching her fur. Scootaloo struck Starlight's horn perfectly, and she let out a sound of victory at her success. "Bullseye!"

Pain like a horribly agonizing headache poured down into Starlight's head. Her ears began to ring, her vision growing blurry.

"Thirteen strikes," Sweetie Belle said, continuing to write on the parchment. "That concludes Scootaloo's test."

"Oh dear," Rarity sighed, putting a hoof to her cheek. "It appears Starlight is slipping away."

"I guess my previous theory was wrong," Scootaloo said, bringing her face to the dying Starlight's. "Looks like she couldn't survive."

"That's a fail for this test," Sweetie Belle sighed.

"Now, let's not say that yet," Rarity stepped in. "She's still breathing. Let's wait a little bit to see if she truly does die, or just lose consciousness."

After a few moments, Starlight's eyes fluttered shut and her head hung limply. Scootaloo reached her hoof up to the unicorn's neck. She looked back at the others and shook her head.

Sweetie Belle sighed again. "Fail." By Scootaloo's test, she drew an x. "Poor performance, too, may I add. She gave in far too quickly."

"What a pity," Rarity said, shaking her head. "Alright. Discord, revive her, and we'll resume with the next test."